Summer Is Finally Here

Summer just started; school is finally out; exam marks are in; and the temperature is going wild. With students rushing out of classrooms, a totally new, vibrant presence fills the air. Deadlines are gone, and longer, sunnier days accompanied by free time have finally arrived.

For many students, summertime can act as a reset button. Now that school is over, schedules are more open, which results in everyone scurrying around to find something to do. It’s the perfect time to utilize this new motivation and make the most out of these few months of freedom.

How To Summer Max

When I say summer max, I don’t inherently mean spending the summer looks maxing. What I mean is trying to make the most out of your summertime. It means find something new to do, to better yourself as a person, and find ways to maximize your potential. A lot of us have been in a situation where someone asks, “What did you do over the summer?” Most of the time, people answer with “nothing” because they literally just slept and weren’t all that productive. Trying to make the most out of your summer is a great way to avoid that awkward answer and actually have something meaningful to share.

There isn’t necessarily a set of rules when it comes to trying to make the most out of your summer. Each individual person has different views or ideas on what making the most out of summer actually means. I’ll be providing you with suggestions on what you can do, or what you can avoid doing, to try and be as productive as possible this summer.

1. Pick Up Hobbies

Picking up hobbies is a great way to learn something new, build skills, and fill up your free time. There are so many different hobbies you can try with a school-free schedule. You can learn an instrument, start drawing, learn a new language, take on DIY projects, pick up a new sport, garden or plant a small herb, bake or experiment with new recipes, or journal, just to name a few. The potential for new hobbies in the summertime is endless, and for most of them, all you need to get started is some motivation and free time.

2. Volunteer or Work

Volunteering or working is a great way to meet new people, build your skills, and gain valuable experience that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. There are plenty of job opportunities in the summertime so finding a position may not be too difficult. Many different organizations also look for youth volunteers, including some you might not even expect. For those of you already involved in a volunteer organization, it never hurts to volunteer with multiple groups.

3. Start A Side Hustle

Starting a side hustle gives you the opportunity to earn passive income. It gives you full freedom to explore starting your own small business or diving into topics you enjoy. It also allows you to take your hobbies to the next level. Side hustles can be an amazing idea if you’re looking to make money this summer.

4. Social Media Break/Detox

With social media taking the world by storm, it feels nearly impossible to live life without it. Taking a break from social media can provide a much needed cleanse and a reality check. Summertime is the perfect opportunity to try stepping away from social media. It doesn’t even have to be long. Giving it up for just one weekend can be a huge step toward exploring new things.

5. Physically Glow Up

This summer, you could start prioritizing your physical health by trying new workouts or routines. With motivation and free time, who knows, you might even have a glow up.

6. Set Goals and Create A Planner

Filling your schedule with lots of new hobbies or a job can be hard to manage. Without proper planning or setting goals, it is easy for things to slip through the cracks. A simple goal, such as practicing an instrument twice a week for one hour, can help you build habits and prevent you from giving up. Remember, it is okay if you let something go this summer. Just because you did not stick with it does not mean it was a waste of time. Having all this free time gives you room to explore and find out what you enjoy.

Avoid Doing These Things

If we really want to make the most out of the summertime, it would be helpful to avoid some of these things. However, that does not mean these activities are bad, and you should not feel like a failure if you do them. There is nothing inherently wrong with them, just remember they can interfere with trying new things and being productive.

1. Ignoring Your Goals

Ignoring your goals can cause you to stop trying new things and make you forget why you started in the first place. Trying something new can be challenging so it is important to prioritize creating smart, long-lasting goals that you will follow. These goals can help you overcome the initial obstacles when starting something new.

2. Bed-Rotting

Bed-rotting is when we spend the entire day in bed without doing daily activities or chores. Getting up, experiencing the world, and trying something new can help us make the most out of summer. We all need our sleep, but there is definitely cases of over doing it.

3. Fear Of Missing Out

Avoid letting the fear of missing out stop you from exploring new things or from taking a break. Missing out on social events or gatherings can be scary, and it’s a completely normal feeling to have. Constantly forcing yourself to do things just because you’re worried you’ll miss out can lead to you overdoing it. Remember, it’s extremely important to take time for yourself to recharge. It’s okay to say no if you’re not up for it, you shouldn’t feel guilty for that.

4. Don’t Burn Out

Trying all these different things in the summertime can lead to burnout. When we burn out, we are not fully enjoying our time, and we may end up giving up on some of the activities we started. It is important to take breaks when we need them and to avoid overworking ourselves.

TL;DR

Summer is here so there’s lots of opportunity to build skills and fill our schedules. You can pick up new hobbies, find a job or start volunteering, explore a side hustle, take a break from social media, build new routines to improve your physical health, and create goals to ensure you stick with your new schedule. It is also important to avoid ignoring your goals, letting the fear of missing out hold you back, overworking yourself, or bed-rotting all day.